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DOYLE DIETZ/SPECIAL PHOTO J.T. Dolbin, 18, of Orwigsburg took his first black bear, a 202-pound boar, while hunting with friends on State Game Lands 187 with the Remington 7600 .30-06 his father Josh, left, had used as a boy to take his first buck.

WHITE HAVEN — Hunters who took first bears, big bears and really big bears all contributed to making the 2016 Pennsylvania black bear season the fifth-best since the Pennsylvania Game Commission began keeping records in 1915.

One of those hunters who took his first bear was Blue Mountain High senior J.T. Dolbin, 18, of Orwigsburg, while hunting with his dad Josh and some friends on State Game Lands 187 in Luzerne County.

As for the big bears taken, the largest was a 740-pound bear, on the final day of the statewide archery bear season, that was witnessed after the fact by retired Southern Columbia teacher, basketball coach, principal and superintendent Al Lonoconus of Catawissa.

Of the 3,529 bears taken during the combined seasons in 2016, 60 weighed 500 pounds or more, 17 weighed 600 pounds or more and three weighed 700 pounds or more.

In 2015 3,748 bears were taken, including 68 weighing 500 pounds or more, and the all-time record was set in 2011 with 4,350 bears taken.

An amazing total of eight bears weighing more than 700 pounds was taken in 2011, but the three taken in 2016 were the first to exceed that weight since 2013.

In 2010 Dave Price of Cresco took the heaviest bear on record when he shot one with an estimated weight of 876 pounds during the opening day of the archery season in Monroe County.

Dustin Learn of Home took the largest bear in 2016 on Friday, Nov. 18, the final day of the statewide archery season, while hunting in Rayne Township, Indiana County.

Lonoconus saw the bear after traveling to Indiana County to hunt on the opening day of the firearms season with former Bloomsburg University dean of students Ed Nardi.

During his time as a student at Bloomsburg, Lonoconus developed a friendship with Nardi and got him interested in hunting. They have remained friends ever since and today belong to two hunting camps.

“When I got out to Ed’s place, he said I had to come with him and see the bear his friend had shot that day with his crossbow,” Lonoconus said. “According to Ed, his friend had been still hunting and saw what he thought was a big tarp in the distance on the ground.

“He didn’t want the tarp to be blowing around, so he started moving toward it and was planning to roll it up and put it against a tree. When got closer, he realized what he was looking at was a huge bear that had nestled up and was sleeping.

“Ed didn’t know how close he got before getting into position to take a shot, but he was on target. He hit the bear and it never moved.”

As for Dolbin, he knew exactly what he was seeing, but he never expected to see what he saw.

He and his dad were part of the drivers attempting to move bears to the standers during a hunt at Nescopeck State Park.

Suddenly, a bear bolted from cover, but rather than run ahead or to the side where standers were posted, it turned and ran back toward Dolbin. Instinct took over and muscle memory allowed him to shoulder the .30-06 Remington 7600 that had a history of firsts in his family, as his Dad had used it to take his first buck as a boy.

“We were really busting it through the bush and really didn’t expect to have the opportunity for a shot,” Dolbin remembered later after the 202-pound boar had been field dressed, tagged and removed from the woods. “I couldn’t believe it was coming toward me and, after he passed me, I was able to get right on him and make the shot.

“It was easy to track him in the snow, but I can’t believe how far he went from where I shot him. Thinking about it, I guess I’m pretty lucky, and it sure helps it dropped right near the road.”

Although Lycoming County ranked behind Clinton County in bears taken at the conclusion of the firearms season, it finished with 243 to rank No. 1. It was followed by Clinton with 220, Tioga with 169, Potter with 149, Warren with 131 and Somerset with 116.

During four-day general season, 2,601 bears were taken, and 691 were taken in the extended seasons. Bowhunters took 225 bears during the archery bear season, and 12 bears were taken in the early season in WMUs 2B, 5B and 5C.

Here are the final county totals by region with 2015 figures in parentheses:

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